The Golden Hour Of The Future: Recordings By The Future And The Human League

Quoted from the excellent Human League site Blind Youth, a complete guide to The Human League 1977-1980.

This album, credited to The Future + The Human League, compiles recordings the two groups made between 1977 and the moment The Human League signed to Virgin Records in 1979. The project began soon after producer and recording artist Richard X contacted this site in early 2001 after noticing it features the sleeve of his first Girls On Top single, Being Scrubbed, which mixes Being Boiled with TLC's No Scrubs. After he expressed an interest in releasing the early works of The Future and The Human League on his Black Melody label, I contacted Martyn and Philip to find out how they felt about the idea, and both seemed interested.

Richard and I then began gathering unreleased recordings from our collection of bootlegs, and following my visit to The Human League's Sheffield studio in October 2001, I was kindly given copies of further unreleased material by the League's long-standing engineer, David Beevers, including a copy of The Future Tapes, some of which had never been bootlegged.

As the project began to gather momentum, David volunteered to explore the many master tapes stored in the League's studio and found many more unreleased recordings, some of which had probably not been played since the 1970s. While David was busy restoring and cleaning up these tapes, many of which were in bad condition, Richard and I met with Martyn and Ian, who also looked through their collections for other recordings and photographs which could be used for the artwork.

After much deliberation, Richard arrived at the tracklisting above, though the album contains some additional snippets of material not listed above or on the sleeve.

Unfortunately, the sound quality is uneven throughout the album; this is due to the variable quality of the tapes available. Of the tracks listed on the sleeve, Philip's The Circus Of Dr Lao is probably the most lo-fi, as the only good quality recording of this track which could be located was missing Philip's vocals. The only available vocal version was actually taken from a bootleg cassette, and this appears on the album. Thankfully, the other recordings were taken, if not directly from the original master tapes, then from good quality DAT backups of those masters.

While many more unreleased recordings remain in the League's archives, this album does provide the listener with a good overall introduction to both The Future and the League's early recordings which led to their publishing and recording contracts with Virgin companies.

Remastered edition. Let me know if anyone wants the original edition as well.

There's also a Wikipedia entry here.

320 Kbps.

Expired.

Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood

The first sighting of Albarn/Hewlett's Gorillaz. I heard yesterday that The Horrors will be appearing on the new Gorillaz album. Excellent.

This extended mix of Clint Eastwood is pretty damn fine too. Albarn gets a lot of shit, but I really rate and respect the guy. He's undoubtedly the major talent to emerge from the whole Britpop scene, with the possible exception of Jarvis, whom I think I would prefer to go out for a drink with. But then I still can't drink for another 15 weeks so I'd like to go out for a drink with fucking anybody.

Finally, someone let me out of my case...

320 Kbps.

Expired.

Richard X Vs Liberty X - Being Nobody

This is undeniable genius, I don't care what anyone says. The "OK. Ready? Let's do it" line lifted from the original Being Boiled is simply the most delicious pink icing sitting atop the big fat cake.

And yes, it's Liberty X. Get over it. The way they introduce themselves at the start of the instrumental mix (and album version) is another solid gold classic moment.

"Hello, my name's Kevin." Genius.

320 Kbps.

Expired.

Louie - Dead Man 8"

Raucous and brilliant Undertones-y buzz pop with a garage/Nuggets vibe.

Produced by Stephen Street and released in 2006. They look about 12 on the back sleeve (or is that just me getting old?).

Weird but very cool 8" pressing on red vinyl.

Vinyl rip at 320 Kbps.

Expired.

David Sylvian - Brilliant Trees

Although the songs on Brilliant Trees had the melancholy, nostalgic air of Ghosts, they also had an exultant open feel. Chords were suggested rather than stated, sounds were ambiguously mysterious yet individual. It is an atmosphere of soft distance. It drifts like fog or clouds but it is compulsive.

320 Kbps

Expired.

Hazel O'Connor - Will You 7"

Is this a new wave pop classic or a guilty pleasure? As usual, I have no idea and am only guided by my inert reverse snobbery. It matters not - this is still fucking wonderful. The Hazel O'Connor revival starts here.

Vinyl rip at 320 Kbps.

Expired.

Geiom and Spamchop - Cave Rave 12"

Geiom & Spamchop unite forces for a clever post-garage winner on Berkane Sol, riding a restlessly fidgety riddim with skipping bass humps offset by arabesque electronica melodies making for a slightly psychedelic effect.

Over on the flip Geiom goes it alone, further investigating the meeting point of UKF and post-dubstep electronics with a ruffled acid line applied to slickly syncopated house rhythms for a darker alternative to the Blunted Robots styles.

Ace UK Funky mutations.

Vinyl rip at 320 Kbps.

Expired.